The Fearless Warrior

"BIG MACINTOSH!" Apple jack cried out. The big red stallion was flying, his eyes closed in pain. His body hit the barn's wall and the wood broke under the impact... He was out of sight among the scrubs of wood.

The orange pony looked at the creature that made that to her brother. It was a huge hydra. Four strong legs holding a long body, three longs necks ending in draconian heads and one strong tail. The hydra had fifteen meters high and was at least thirty meters long from the tip of the center head to the end of the tail. It got big scales covering it's body and the colors went from a dark brown to a light cream. The eyes were a dark red, resembling the color of blood.

Steel Head was fully armored and flying around the creature, trying to catch his attention and confusing the three heads. Twilight Sparkle was using her magic to levitate some farm tools and big branches, hitting the hydra's body from all directions. Applejack started to run near the legs of the monster, bucking whenever she got the chance. The three ponies were trying their best to make the hydra go away and leave Sweet Apple acres, but the monster was only getting annoyed by them and growing anger and anger.

Head steel flew too close from one of the heads. The monster tried to bite him but he dove to the ground avoiding it. When he tried to recover from the dive a strong leg hit the side of his body, sending him flying away. Twilight Sparkle used her magic to hold the royal guard in the air, preventing him to land in the ground.

"T-thanks!" He said to the purple unicorn. His sides were hurting a little and he thanked the armor, who protected him from any serious injuries. Twilight was landing the royal guard on the floor when she was hit by Applejack. The orange pony was hit by the monster's tail and landed on her friend. Both fillies rolled a few times on the ground and now both were out of combat, moaning in pain.

"Why damn you!" Steel Head charged towards the monster and, like a missile, hit one of the heads with his forehoofs. The head that received the strike went dizzy, and the other two roared so loud that Head Steel almost lost his balance in flight.

Suddenly he saw, Not too far away, something approaching fast. It was a rather comic sight. It was Rainbow Dash, flying at her top speed. On her back, holding in her mane was Eravel, fully armored and with an axe on his hand. It was weird to see him mounted on the cyan filly because he was taller than the ponies around, at least 60 to 70cm taller. It was just out of the normal proportion expected of a man riding a horse. But the cyan filly was strong, and she didn't seem to have any problem carrying the human in full armor.

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I took the clothes and the armor floating in the air. I was so worried about what was happening that I just took my blue robe off in the middle of the street. Quickly I put the new clothes on; it was probably the ones that Rarity made for me. Black pants and a cream shirt with some green details. They were really nice clothes and very comfortable, the cloth used was soft and very light, different from the rough line clothes that I had before.

I put my armor over the clothes and felt that familiar weight. It was really nice to feel it again. I put my sword on my left side and the axe on the right side. It's been a long time since I last sharpen both, so they were a little dull, but still sharp enough to be dangerous.

"OK, I'm ready… let's go!" I said and was going to start walking but I saw the cyan filly in my way.
"If you go running there it will be too late! Get on my back!" She said serious. I had my doubts about that, but we had no time to think about it. I mounted her and took my axe of my belt, since the exposed blade was dangerous for her wings.
She jumped and started to flap her wings fast. It was amazing that she was carrying me with so little effort and going so fast. Actually, I was scared… REALLY scared of the speed we were flying. It was much faster than when I used the royal carriage and I had no place to hold properly. Without much choice I grabbed her mane and clenched my knees on her sides.
"HEY! DON'T PULL IT!" She shouted at me when I grabbed her mane.
"Sorry! But I have no other place to hold!" I said still holding tight.

Her speed was astonishing... Soon we started to fly over a large area full of apple trees. At distance I could see some constructions… A simple house with two floors and a barn. As we approached more I saw that the barn was damaged. On the floor I saw Applejack and Twilight, one on top of the other, recovering from some kind of hit. Steel head was flying around the reason I was here. A damn huge hydra!

We had some stories about the Hydras and other kind of dragons, but this was the first time I saw one and I felt my insides grow cold. It was huge and had nasty claws and teeth. I gripped Rainbow Dash's sides with my legs and pulled my sword… This was going to get messy.
"Rainbow! Go faster! Between their necks!" I shouted and inclined my body forward. I lifted my weapons and Rainbow started to go faster, dashing at her top speed. We passed through their necks leaving a faint trail of a rainbow. I swung both weapons and hit the side of two necks.

Thy Hydra roared in pain as the cold metal cut in its flesh and made the blood gush out. The cuts were not deep as I intended… The weapons were not sharp enough. Rainbow Dash spun in the air to avoid being hit by the Hydra's tail. Without my hands to hold on her I fell on the back of the monster, rolled and hit the floor, losing the air in my lungs.

"ERAVEL!" I heard Rainbow Dash yell and saw one of the heads of the monster coming to me. I rolled to my side, right in time to avoid being caught between those mighty jaws and jumped on my feet.
"Damn, it was close!" I said to myself. "Rainbow! Head! Fly around the Hydra, distract it!" I shouted to both pegasi. I saw both starting to fly around the monster... The heads started to try catch the two and that made the opportunity I needed! I ran towards the monster and went between its legs lifting my sword in a fast swing and making a deep cut on the Hydra's belly. I heard it roared in pain again… All the blood gushed and covered my body. But then again, the cut was not deep enough… I prepared to use my axe to strike again but I felt something warping around my waist and pulling me to the side. The monster used the tail to grip me and lift me in the air. I struggled as hard as I could, but the monster was too strong. The hydra swung me in the air and threw me away. Last thing I saw was a tree getting close fast and then… the darkness warped me.

I opened my eyes and saw the already familiar void surrounding me. I knew I was unconscious and I knew I needed to wake up! My friends were in danger there!

"Discord! Where the hell are you! Make me wake up! I need to keep fighting!" I shouted to the void but no answer… "Discord damn you! I need to wake up!" I was yelling, almost begging… My chest was hurting. The feeling of being powerless was crushing my soul.

"Why you need to wake up?" An ethereal voice echoed around me… and it was not Discord. "Why keep risking your life for them? They are just animals, not worth the effort…" The voice came again.
The scenario changed… I was floating over the apples trees. I could see the Hydra roaring, trying to catch the two pegasi that were still flying around. Applejack and Twilight were on the floor, they looked hurt and unable to fight. To my horror, I saw Rainbow Dash fly too close from one of the heads and the Hydra hit her with a head strike. The cyan pegasus fell hard on the ground unconscious.
"No…" I said almost in a whisper. Head steel flew to help rainbow dash but the Hydra caught him in a bite, and then threw the royal guard on the barn. I had a glimpse of blood coming out of his body and his armor full of holes. It had the same feelings when Discord showed me the memory of the day my father died. Those who I cared were in danger, and I could do nothing about it!
"Do you want to help them?" That voice came again to me.
"Yes.. please… I'm begging you, whoever you are…" I said holding back tears… The Hydra looked at the cyan filly, she was recovering her conscience, but still too dizzy to run.
"So don't deny your fear… feel it… embrace it… and let the hatred… consume you…" The voice said again. It was right...Until now I pushed all that cold fear out of my mind, trying to be brave to do what it has to be done… but I was afraid, not only for me, but for them. They were the first creatures that I could call friends in years. They cared about me, and I didn't want to lose them! I was so scared of being alone again… so scared… so scared… so… angry… The cold fear that was filling my guts started to fade away. A burning fire took its place. I was angry, I felt hatred… and desire for blood.

I looked to the scene down there… and saw Rainbow Dash looking at the Hydra… The cyan filly was terrified, her eyes full of tears and her body shaking from fear. Completely freeze. Watching her like that was the final spark for me.

I felt the real world around me again. My body was light and the mist of rage was on my mind again... In front of me was the enemy and I was about to engage it... I felt happy... The air passed through my throat, making a guttural howl echoes through the farm, grasping the Hydra's attention, like it was a challenge from another wild beast. My eyes meet the monster's eyes and I charged in, running at my top speed, my weapons lifted ready to strike. One of the heads came to bite me but I jumped in the last second, landing on it and started to run on its neck. When I was near the base of it, I jumped again, to my side, with my axe ready. I landed a strike in the neck next to me. The blade carved its way deep in the flesh, getting stuck. All the heads roared in pain and that was music for my ears. I pulled myself up as hard as I could, lifting my body and giving more power to my sword arm. My sword pierced the base of that head. The tip went through the skull and reached the brain.

That neck fell limp on the ground and I fell with it. I was able to land on my feet and with a strong pull my axe was free again. But right after that the middle head came and bite my sword arm. I felt its teeth carving my flesh, tearing it apart. In a split of second I answered that with a strong swing of my axe. The weapon landed on the head crushed the Hydra's skull… I felt the bite loosen its grip, enough so I could pull my arm out. With two of the three head dead, the last one was using her strength to try and run, but it tripped on the other two necks that were hanging lifeless.

The Hydra fell hard on the floor and I jumped on it, landing on the side of her body. I charged, going for the last head. In her last desperate move she came to me with her mouth full open. I jumped to avoid it but the monster move faster and caught me in the air. The huge jaws clenched around my body and I felt the teeth crushing my armor and piercing my flesh. My sword arm was free and I pierced the Hydras nose right before it could crush my body. The monster roared in pain and let go of me. I fell on her body, rolling to the side and ending on the floor. I soon stood up and aimed for the nearest target: The exposed belly.

My arms started to move in fast and strong strikes, cutting and tearing the monster belly apart. I tore it open... The internal organs came out, and I kept striking, digging in, and covering myself in all the blood that was pouring out. I could hear the screams of pain as I tore monster inside out, but that didn't last much... the last neck soon fell limp on the ground. The creature was dead and I wanted more... I could taste a bit of the blood that came to my mouth... it was delicious... I wanted more blood... MORE!
I looked around, finding the nearest target... a cyan filly. She widened her eyes and I grinned. I started walking towards her... I remembered her... she was the one that got away... but not this time... she was not going to escape!
"Eravel! Stop! It's me!" I heard she saying to me while I approached her. I knew it was her... She was the one that got away... I knew it already.

When she was in my reach I lifted my axe, aiming for her head. She just looked at me with her teary eyes... I stare deep in them, my arm tensed to deliver the final blow...
"Please... Eravel..." She said again, shaking a little.
I moved my whole body to strike her down, it would be a fatal hit and she was not going to escape! But then... My axe hit the ground, digging in the earth right next to her. I froze in that position. What happen? Why did I miss her? There was nothing around to hit me, to stop me... what the hell happens! And why was I not able to move!

I felt something soft rub against my face and hear a soft whisper near my ear.
"It's ok... don't be afraid... the monster is gone... no need to be scared." It was Rainbow Dash voice. At that moment the mist of rage started to lift from my brain... My sword arm started to burn in an intense pain and it was the same for my chest, belly and back. I fell on my knees, losing all my strength. My reason took the lead now and I realized that, once again, I almost killed that cyan pegasus... That hit my head like a thousand arrows.

"I'm sorry..." I said in a weak voice... my chest hurt each time I breathed. I felt she coming closer to me, leaning her head in my shoulder and then puling me closer in some kind of hug.
"It's ok... you were only acting out of fear." She said. It was the last words I heard before I dive into darkness again.

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Rainbow Dash held the human's body as he fell limp over her. He had nasty wounds and was completely covered in blood. Her cyan fur got stained with all the red liquid he was covered with and she felt her stomach sick from the stench of death he had. From the crumbles on the barn, Big Macintosh came; he had a hurt leg and was having difficult to walk. He went straight for Applejack and Twilight, both still on the floor. Twilight had strained a leg and Applejack had a serious pain expression.

"You a'right apple jack?" Big Macintosh asked nuzzling her head softly, worried about her sister.
"Ah think so... but it hurts t'breath" She said not daring move.
"Don't move Applejack. You may have some broken ribs..." Big Mackintosh said and looked at Twilight.
"I'm alright, I just hurt my leg when Applejack landed on me" She said starting to stand up with a little difficult.
"Twilight! You've got to get help!" Rainbow dash said landing near her purple friend. "Eravel is almost not breathing and Steel head is badly hurt too!" Rainbow was all covered in blood from Eravel.

At that point, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pink Pie arrived at the scene. The three stopped in shock at the sight of the mutilated Hydra, lying dead.

"Thank Celestia you three arrived!" Twilight said in hurry. "Why you guys took so long!"
"I went to Cloudsdale to call for help." Fluttershy said, panting heavily.
"And we were asking for help around town! Red Heart nurse is coming with a medical team too, they'll soon be here." Rarity spoke and then her jaw dropped at the sight of Rainbow Dash, all covered in blood. "Rainbow Dash! What happen to you!"
"I'm fine... just got some bruises..." She said.
"But... what about all this blood!" Rarity spoke, still in shock.
"oh... this..." She said looking at herself. "It's not mine, it's from Eravel. He's too injured... I hope the medics come soon…" She spoke really worried.

She barely finished her phrase and various ponies started to arrive at the scene. Pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns, all coming to help. They didn't waste any time, rushing to help the fallen human and the other ponies there. Rainbow Dash personally helped to carry the human to the hospital, to receive emergency treatment. A letter was sent to Canterlot summoning the medics there that had taken care of him before. Octavia was among those who came to help and she was the one that found Steel Head. He was conscious and trapped in his armor. The armor had several holes from the teeth of the Hydra and the sharp metal had bend in a way that had entered his flesh, causing a great amount of pain and making him stuck.

The day was saved by those who fought the Hydra, but there was still some questions that everypony had in mind. Why a Hydra, an inhabitant of Everfreeforest, was doing there? They usually lived in the swamp part of the forest, but never in Ponyvile history one had come to attack. The whole picture of a monster coming out of the forest and rampaging near the city was something totally new to them, and fear started to lurk on their hearts.